Message #61530

[mslemon]

I've worked at two companies where there have been discrimination against women because of their size. At one company I was asked to head up the interview process for a new receptionist. After interviewing several people I narrowed the search to two top candidates; both were women who were extremely professional, well dressed, excellent references, top notch computer skills, etc. Both of these women were overweight. After two managers met briefly with them they told me to find new ones that "would give a better image to the company."  I overheard them talking to other managers saying that overweight people are a huge liability.

At another company I was chatting to a VP and HR Manager about the new open position he had for an executive assistant. He was complaining that all the admin candidates seemed to be fat and why couldn’t they find him a normal looking assistant? I was so completely disgusted and shocked.  I remember saying something like “what on earth does a woman’s size have to do with this?” They both gave me a cold look and said this conversation was completely off the record.  I left a short while later.


Sadly, I think this type of discrimination goes on a lot.